What is the best way to plant cauliflower: seedling and non-seedling methods

Cauliflower has gained popularity among gardeners due to its pleasant taste, rich chemical composition, high nutritional value and hypoallergenicity. This is a very capricious crop, but if agrotechnical requirements are observed, even novice vegetable growers can get a rich and high-quality harvest. We will tell you in detail about the rules for planting cauliflower in the ground and its care requirements.

How to plant cauliflower directly in open ground

Cauliflower is grown in seedlings and without seedlings. Both technologies are productive, but have some peculiarities. Thus, sowing seeds directly into open ground is most often used in the southern regions and central Russia, choosing early and mid-ripening varieties for this.

Variety selection

The most suitable varieties and hybrids for planting in open ground cauliflower are described in the table.

Sowing dates

Sowing seeds in open ground is carried out in May. More precise dates depend on the variety, its ripening period and the climatic conditions of the region.

The main thing is that the soil warms up to at least +10°C, and the average daily air temperature at the time of sowing was at least +6°C (this is the minimum indicator for seed germination).

Soil preparation

For cauliflower, choose a well-lit area, protected from gusty winds and drafts.. The culture prefers fertile, loose soil with good aeration, moisture permeability and a weak or neutral acidity level (pH 6.7–7.4). The best option is sandstones and loams.

Reference. Lime or dolomite flour is first added to acidic soil, otherwise the risk of cabbage clubroot infection increases.

In the fall, the area is dug up and 7-8 kg of manure or compost and 1.5 kg of ash per 1 m² are added. In the spring, repeated digging is carried out with the addition of mineral fertilizers: 25 g of ammonium nitrate, 50 g of potassium salt and 25 g of superphosphate per 1 m².

Sowing cauliflower

Seed sowing technology:

1. In the prepared area, form rows at a distance of 25–30 cm from each other.
2. Make planting holes in them with a diameter of 4-5 cm and a depth of 1-2 cm, keeping a distance of 60–70 cm between them.
3. Water the soil with warm water.
4. Place 2-3 grains in each hole, sprinkle with soil or humus, and compact slightly.
5. Cover the beds with film to protect the cabbage from return frosts.

Seeds germinate 7–10 days after sowing. When 3-4 leaves are formed on the seedlings, weak plants are removed by cutting them off with sharp scissors at the very base to eliminate the risk of damage to the roots of strong seedlings.

Further care

On average, cauliflower is watered once every 4–7 days at the rate of 10 liters of water per 1 m². To retain moisture, the soil is mulched with rotted sawdust or mowed grass.

Reference. Waterlogging of the soil provokes rotting of the roots, and drying out of the soil during ovary formation - reduction in yield.

After watering or rain, the soil is loosenedto improve its moisture permeability and aeration. At the same time, they get rid of weeds, and to enhance root growth, the plants are regularly hilled.

Fertilizers are applied according to the scheme:

• 2 weeks after emergence or transplanting seedlings into the ground - a solution of urea (20–25 g per bucket of water) or mullein at the rate of 5 liters per 1 m²;
• after 14 days - mullein solution with the addition of 1 tbsp. l. "Kristalona", at the rate of 1 liter per plant;
• after 2 weeks - 6–8 liters of nitrophoska solution (2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water) per 1 m².

After the heads begin to set, stop applying nitrogen fertilizers.to avoid the accumulation of nitrates in cabbage.

Important! With a lack of boron and molybdenum, the heads of cabbage are formed small, and the leaves are narrow and inconspicuous.

After setting the first inflorescences, they are shaded by 2-3 adjacent leaves. To do this, they are collected in a bun and secured with an elastic band or clothespin. If this is not done, the heads will turn yellow and become spotted.

Prevention and treatment of diseases:

• Alternaria - pre-planting seed treatment with Planriz, spraying with Bordeaux mixture, colloidal sulfur or copper sulfate;
• kila - adding lime or dolomite flour before planting and under the root of cabbage;
• ring spot - treatment with fungicides (Agatom, Bravo);
• mucous bacteriosis - spring treatment with a suspension of colloidal sulfur;
• vascular bacteriosis - treatment with Trichodermin and Planriz;
• fusarium - watering with Fitosporin-M solution, treatment with Fundazol;
• black leg - pre-planting seed treatment with potassium permanganate solution, soil disinfection with formaldehyde;
• downy mildew - treatment with fungicides (Vectra, Quadris, Kurzat);
• mosaic - the disease cannot be treated, the affected specimens are destroyed.

To repel slugs and caterpillars, the soil between the rows is treated with dry mustard, lime or ash. To combat aphids, plantings are sprayed with garlic, pepper or chamomile solution, and cabbage flies are eliminated using tobacco dust. In case of severe damage, plants are treated with insecticides (Aktara, Tanrek, Biotlin).

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Method through growing seedlings from seeds

The seedling method of growing cauliflower is used by most gardeners. His the main advantage is accelerated harvesting.

When and how to sow seedlings

Seeds of early ripening varieties are sown for seedlings at the end of February, mid-season - in mid-March, late - at the end of March.

Planting material is pre-treated to improve germination and disinfection.To do this, the seeds are immersed in hot water (+45...+50°C) for 15–20 minutes, and then in cold water for 2-3 minutes. Then soak for 8–12 hours in a solution of a growth stimulator (“Kornevin”, “Heteroauxine”) and potassium permanganate, rinse thoroughly under running water and dry.

Sowing rules:

1. Fill the prepared containers with a suitable substrate (peat, river sand, humus and rotted mullein in a ratio of 2:1:1:1).
2. Make a recess of maximum 1 cm.
3. Place a grain in the center and sprinkle it with sand.
4. Moisten the substrate with a spray bottle.
5. Cover the container with polyethylene or glass.

Containers with crops are placed in a bright place with an air temperature of +18…+20°C. The shelter is removed after germination.

Care and conditions for seed germination

To avoid pulling the cabbage, after seed germination, the air temperature in the room with seedlings is reduced to +6...+8°C for 5 days, and then maintained within +15...+18°C during the day and +8...+10°C at night. The optimal humidity level is 70–80%.

Important! Temperatures of +21°C and above lead to the absence of ovaries on the inflorescences.

Watering is carried out on average once a week, avoiding waterlogging and drying out of the substrate. When 2-3 leaves are formed on the seedlings, the seedlings are fed with wood ash (1 tbsp per 10 liters of water) or mullein solution in a ratio of 1:10.

When sowing seeds in a common container After 2 leaves appear on the seedlings, a pick is carried out - the plants are planted in individual containers. After this, the seedlings are kept at a temperature of +21°C, and when they take root - at +17°C during the day and +9°C at night.

10 days before transplanting into the ground, plants begin to harden. To do this, they are taken out into the open air, gradually increasing the time they stay there from 5 minutes to a day.

How to plant cauliflower seedlings in open ground

The timing of planting seedlings in beds depends on the time of sowing the seeds. Plants should be 45–50 days old.

Transplant instructions:

1. Form rows on the plot with a row spacing of 50 cm.
2. Make planting holes every 20–40 cm (depending on the cabbage variety).
3. Add a handful of humus and 1 tbsp to each. l. wood ash.
4. Remove the plants from the containers and place them in the center of the holes, deepening down to 1 true leaf, sprinkle with soil, compact and water.

When transplanting early, the beds are covered with polyethylene to protect against return frosts.

Conclusion

Cauliflower is a very capricious crop that is grown by seedlings or without seedlings. But despite its demanding nature, it will be possible to obtain a rich harvest of healthy vegetables if all the rules of agricultural technology are followed: observing planting dates, choosing a suitable site and the right substrate, timely watering and applying fertilizers.